Multifunctional knitted glove

ABSTRACT

A knitted glove that includes a knitted liner, the knitted liner including at least a first yarn and a second yarn, the first and second yarns forming knitted courses, wherein the knitted courses are disposed along a longitudinal axis of the liner, forming a knitted glove.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/735,881, filed on Dec. 11, 2012, which is incorporated herein in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the invention

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to gloves and,more particularly, to gloves comprising a plurality of yarns in selectedregions of the gloves.

2. Description of the Related Art

Gloves are used in many industrial and household settings to protect thehands of users. Many gloves are designed to embody specific propertiesfor specific applications, for example, cut resistant yarns in glovesfor use by those who uses knives, saws, and the like. Many users havemultiple needs. For example, a metalworker, such as a welder, may needgloves that provide heat-resistance as well as cut-resistance. Designinggloves for such applications can prove to be challenging with thebalance of properties in mind. For example, glove designers havedesigned gloves that are cut-resistant and heat-resistant at the expenseof thinness, dexterity, and flexibility. Moreover, over-engineering aglove, for example, by having additional yarns where not needed, wastesmanufacturing time and capital resources.

Therefore, providing gloves having an enhanced balance of desirableproperties in various regions of the gloves would represent an advancein the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention include vertically knitted, multifunctionalgloves comprising at least two yarns in accordance with the presentinvention, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection withat least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims,are disclosed. Various advantages, aspects, and novel features of thepresent disclosure, as well as details of an exemplary embodimentthereof, will be more fully understood from the following descriptionand drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the above recited features of the presentinvention can be understood in detail, a more particular description ofthe invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference toembodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Itis to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate onlytypical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to beconsidered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to otherequally effective embodiments. It is to be understood that elements andfeatures of one embodiment may be in other embodiments without furtherrecitation and that, where possible, identical reference numerals havebeen used to indicate comparable elements that are common to thefigures.

FIG. 1 depicts a glove in accordance with embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 depicts a close up view of element 120 of glove 100 of FIG. 1, inaccordance with embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3 depicts a close up view of element 130 of glove 100 from FIG. 1,in accordance with embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 4 depicts a plan view of the palm side of glove 200, in accordancewith embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 5 depicts a plan view of the backhand side of glove 200, inaccordance with embodiments of the invention; and

FIG. 6 depicts a plan view of FIG. 5 having a polymeric coating disposedthereon, in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention comprise vertically knitted gloveshaving at least two different yarns. In this context, vertically knittedmeans that the courses of the gloves are disposed parallel to alongitudinal axis of the glove. A glove in accordance with embodimentsof the invention comprises different regions, for example, fingerstalls, a palm region, a backhand region, a cuff region, and the like.Any region may comprise vertically knitted parts. Additionally, a regionmay comprise knitted courses that include both vertically andhorizontally knitted courses.

FIG. 1 depicts a glove according to some embodiments of the invention. Aglove 100 comprises a thumb 102, an index finger 104, a middle finger106, a ring finger 108, a pinky finger 110, an upper palm 114, a lowerpalm 116, and, optionally, a cuff 116. In the fingers and upper palm114, the courses of the knitted glove run laterally or, in other words,perpendicular to a longitudinal axis 140 of the glove 100. In the lowerpalm 116, the courses of the knitted glove run along, i.e., parallel to,the longitudinal axis 140 of the glove 100. Close up views of theknitted structure, as shown in elements 120 (horizontal structure) and130 (vertical structure) are described in greater detail in FIGS. 2 and3 respectively.

A first yarn exhibits a desired property, such as cut-resistance, and asecond yarn exhibits a second desired property, for example, heat-resistance, and is knitted into a different region of the glove than thefirst yarn. Gloves in accordance with embodiments of the inventioncomprise many different yarns having different properties, such ascut-resistance, heat- or flame-resistance, moisture-control, chemicalresistance, flexibility, impact-resistance, abrasion-resistance, andother desirable properties imparted by various yarns and/or structures.Also, embodiments of the present invention comprise where the gloves areknitted vertically. In other words, the courses of the knitted glove runalong the longitudinal axis 140 of the glove. Furthermore, some glovesin accordance with embodiments of the present invention comprise athree-dimensional aspect. For example, regions may comprise taperedsections or variable thickness layers, bumpers, ridges, etc., or otherstructures on a knitted glove in a z-direction with respect to thehorizontally and vertically knitted courses.

The glove may comprise one or more yarns, and may include one or moreplaited layers. A glove may be knitted by conventional knittingprocesses and comprise various yarns, deniers, and gauges. Gloves inaccordance with embodiments of the invention may be knitted usingautomatic seamless glove knitting machines. Gloves knitted with thecourses running vertically, which may be seamless, are knitted by theSWG (single whole garment) machine manufactured by Shima Seiki Mfg.,Ltd.

Knitted gloves in accordance with embodiments of the invention compriseyarns, such as, but not limited to, cotton, rayon, steel wire, glassfibers, filaments, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, nylons,modacrylic yarns, oxidized-polyacrylonitrile (O-PAN), NOMEX®, TWARON®,KEVLAR®, DYNEEMA®, SPECTRA®, VECTRAN®, and the like or any blend of thefibers and materials. Any yarn may comprise one or more yarns, such ascan be created by ring spun, rotor spun, friction spun, braiding, andother processes for blending yarns. Some yarns may be used forcut-resistance, such as steel wire, glass fibers, filaments, ultra-highmolecular weight polyethylene, NOMEX®, TWARON®, KEVLAR®, and DYNEEMA®.Other yarns provide dexterity and fit properties, such as stretchableyarns, for example, SPANDEX® and LYCRA®. Yarns capable of moisturecontrol, such as STA-COOL® polyesters, HYDROTEC®, AQUARIUS®, andDRYENERGY®, may be included to withdraw moisture and perspiration fromthe skin, which also provide comfort. Some yarns, for example, OPAN,such as PANOX®, and ARSELON®, provide enhanced heat-resistance. Also,additional cut resistant layers may be plaited with a main body yarn,i.e., two yarns in the same knitted stitch. The additional cut resistantlayer comprises, as indicated above, steel wire, glass fibers,filaments, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, nylons, NOMEX®,TWARON®, KEVLAR®, DYNEEMA®, SPECTRA®, VECTRAN®, and the like or anyblend of these fibers and materials.

FIG. 2 depicts a close up view of a region 120 of glove 100 of FIG. 1,in accordance with embodiments of the invention. The region 120comprises three yarns 150, 160, and 170 intermeshing in loops to formthe courses 172, 174, and 176 of knitted stitches in horizontal rows,laterally across a section of the liner.

FIG. 3 depicts a close up view of a region 130 of the glove 100 fromFIG. 1, according to embodiments of the invention. The region 130 istaken from the lower palm 130. The region 130 comprises the three yarns180, 182, and 184 intermeshing in loops to form the courses 186, 188,and 190 of knitted stitches in vertical rows, i.e., longitudinallywithin a section parallel to the longitudinal axis 140. Although FIGS.1-3 depict a glove wherein the upper palm and fingers comprisehorizontal courses and a lower palm having vertical courses, inpractice, any finger, thumb, palm, or other region of the glove maycomprise vertical and/or horizontal courses. Therefore, many designs ofliners can be made, tailored to varied specifications for differentin-service applications.

FIG. 4 depicts a plan view of the palm side of the glove 200, inaccordance with embodiments of the invention. The glove 200 comprises athumb 202, an index finger 204, a middle finger 206, a ring finger 208,and a little finger 210. The glove 200 optionally comprises a cuff 212.In some embodiments according to the present invention, the thumb 202,the index finger 204, and the middle finger 206 comprise a first yarn.For example, a first yarn comprises a yarn for cut-resistance, such asan aramid, such as a yarn including KEVLAR® while the ring finger 208and the little finger 210 comprise a second yarn, for example, a heat-and flame-resistant yarn, such as a yarn including OPAN, such PANOX®,and ARSELON® brand yarns. Also, in this embodiment of the presentinvention, the entire glove 200 has vertical courses. Therefore, part ofan upper palm 214 comprises a cut-resistant yarn (the lighter coloredyarn in the index finger 204, the middle finger 206, and the thumb 202regions and under while the upper palm 216, near the little finger 210and the ring finger 208, comprises a heat-resistant yarn (the darkercolored yarn). Also, because of the vertical courses, the borderline222, connecting the first and second yarns can, but need not, embody anon-linear line, as shown, the borderline 222 comprises a parabolicborder. Programming instructions for a Shima Seiki SWG model are shownin Table 1 or knitting an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

In embodiments of this type, a user can protect the fingers from cutswhile, the little finger and the side of the palm (in interface betweenthe palm side and back hand side along the little finger) comprises theheat-resistant OPAN yarn, protecting from burns from a hot cuttingsurface or a pot handle.

FIG. 5 depicts a plan view of the backhand side of the glove 200, inaccordance with embodiments of the invention. The backhand side of theglove 200 has the thumb 202, the index finger 204, the middle finger206, the ring finger 208, the little finger 210 and the cuff 212. Inthis embodiment of the present invention, the cut-resistant yarn, suchas a KEVLAR® yarn, is on the same features as on the palm side of theglove 200. Also, the heat-resistant yarn, such as an OPAN yarn, is alsoon the same features as on the palm side of the glove 200. However, asdiscussed above, this need not be the case. Because of the verticalcourses, the backhand of the glove could comprise different yarns indifferent regions of the glove 200. For example, in the glove 200, onthe backhand side, the borderline 224 embodies a completely distinctpattern than the borderline 222 on the palm side of the glove 200. Theborderline 222 on the backhand side appears parabolic and transfers intoa stepped function, as shown as steps 224. Additionally, in embodimentsof the present invention, gloves knitted with programmable knittingmachines of the SWG type, manufactured by Shima Seiki, may switch fromknitting vertical courses to horizontal courses easily and on-the-fly,so that patterns of several different types using different yarns can becreated, allowing varied glove designs having different physical andchemical properties in any desired region of the glove. In other words,many multifunctional gloves can be created. Moreover, before the presentinvention, it was required to invert a glove so that the courses thatrun horizontally on an exterior of a glove would run vertically on theexterior. Because of vertical course knitting in accordance with thepresent invention, inversion is no longer necessary.

FIGS. 4-5 may also show that glove 200 or other embodiments according tothe present invention comprise yarns having colors contrasting to eachother. For example, as discussed above, gloves in accordance with theinvention, comprise at least a first yarn and a second yarn. And, thefirst yarn and the second yarn comprise two differently colored yarns.For example, the first yarn can be a cut-resistant yarn of a certaincolor while the second yarn is a flame-resistant yarn of a differentcolor than the first yarn. Where the color of one region of the glovediffers from another region, the user can easily and visually identifythe particular glove type, so that where a particular glove is heat-and/or flame-resistant and cut-resistant is known to the user asdiscussed above.

Gloves in accordance with embodiments of the invention may be specifiedfor specific end uses. For example, a glove intended for use by afood-service employee, who often use sharp knives and grab hot handleson pans, may comprise a cut-resistant yarn in one region of the gloveand a heat- and/or flame-resistant yarn in another region. Furthermore,because each hand of a food service employee, when using a knife, isperforming a different function, a glove for each hand may be tailoredto the function. For example, the glove for the hand holding the knifemay comprise a cut-resistant yarn in one region, such as the indexfinger and middle finger. However, in the off-knife hand, the glovecomprises a cut-resistant yarn in a different region, for example, thethumb. Furthermore, different color cut resistant yarns may be used indifferent gloves, providing visual indicia of the protection a specificregion offers that a worker may recognize. And, any of the yarns maycomprise different colors to provide visual recognition of specificproperties. For example, a user can be made aware that a yellow yarnrepresents cut-resistance while a black yarn indicates heat-resistance.A user can therefore choose a glove having those properties in areas ofthe glove as needed for a specific task.

The gloves 100 and/or 200 may comprise a polymeric, elastomeric, orlatex coating disposed on all or part of the gloves. Transparent ortranslucent coatings provide a glove in which the indicia provided bydifferent colored yarns, as discussed above, may still be known to theuser (not shown). FIG. 6 depicts a plan view of FIG. 5 having apolymeric coating disposed thereon, in accordance with embodiments ofthe invention. FIG. 6 comprises the liner of FIG. 5, showing thebackhand side of the glove 200 has the thumb 202, the index finger 204,the middle finger 206, the ring finger 208, the little finger 210 andthe cuff 212. The glove further comprises a polymeric coating 230.

The polymeric coating 230 may comprise natural or synthetic polymericcoatings or mixtures thereof. Any knitted liner may be coated with apolymeric material. For example, a latex coating may comprise a naturallatex, such as guayule or polyisoprene, synthetic latexes, such assynthetic polyisoprene, carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene,non-carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene, butyl latex, polychloroprene,nitriles, acrylics, aqueous- and non-aqueous-polyurethanes,styrene-butadiene, acrylonitrile-butadiene, and the like, or mixturesthereof. The coating 230 on, for example, liners 100 and/or 200, cancomprise a palm dip, a knuckle dip, a finger dip, a full dip, and thelike, or, as shown, a ¾ dip, as needed for specific applications usingthe dip processes as described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No.7,814,571, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Knitted liners of the gloves 100 and 200 and other embodiments of thepresent invention may be dipped or sprayed with a coagulant, such ascalcium nitrate, calcium chloride, calcium citrate, and the like, andother salts known to those in the art. In some embodiments of theinvention, the coagulant comprises an aqueous and/or alcoholic solutionof an acid, for example, a 5-20% solution of trichloroacetic, acetic,formic, or citric acid. The coagulant causes the polymeric coating toset on the fabric of the liner, preventing strikethrough of the coating.Also, gloves in accordance with embodiments of the invention may furthercomprise coatings that are foamed (open cell or closed cell) orunfoamed. Additionally, coatings may be built up in layers or in varyingthickness. The layers may comprise the same or different polymericmaterials. Additionally, the coatings may further comprise texturedsurfaces (not shown). Open cell and closed cell foamed layers and/ortextured coatings may impart additional friction during use, allowingsuperior gripability and safety properties, as is disclosed incommonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,378,043, 7,771,644, and 8,001,809which are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

Additional layers may be plaited into a glove in several ways. Forexample, an additional layer can be formed by changing a main yarn to anadditional cut resistant yarn while varying stitch dimensions, forexample, yarn tension. The tension of the yarn may be varied byadjusting the tension of the yarn between a pinch roller and a knittinghead by computer control of a knitting machine, as is disclosed incommonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,434,422, which is herein incorporatedby reference in its entirety. Stitch dimensions can also be controlledby varying the depth of penetration of the knitting needle into theknitted glove, formed by a main yarn, and by casting off or picking upadditional stitches in a knitted course. An additional layer may also beformed by variable plaiting the additional cut resistant yarn on top ofthe main yarn while varying the tension of the plaited cut resistantyarn. Substituting or plaiting one course at a certain tension forms aglove having additional cut resistance. Knitting two or more courses,such as three, four, five, etc., courses, provides a glove having aneven greater density to the additional layer, thereby providing a morecut resistant glove. Building up on a knitted course in a z-directionalso provides zonal reinforcement in desired regions of the glove.

In some embodiments of the invention, the main body yarn comprises yarnssuch as SPANDEX® or LYCRA®, which imparts for stretchability for ease ofdonning, doffing, and comfort during use. Also, the main body yarn maycomprise yarns capable of moisture management, such as STA-COOL®polyesters, HYDROTEC®, AQUARIUS®, and DRYENERGY®. Such yarns have highwicking properties, which promote the transfer of moisture away from wetor sweaty skin to less wet areas or to reservoirs for eventual storageand/or evaporation, technologies that are disclosed in commonly assignedU.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/571,569, which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention,other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised withoutdeparting from the basic scope thereof, the scope thereof determined bythe claims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A knitted glove, comprising: a knitted liner, theknitted liner including at least a first yarn and a second yarn, thefirst and second yarns forming knitted courses, wherein the knittedcourses are disposed along a longitudinal axis of the liner.
 2. Theknitted glove of claim 1, wherein the knitted liner comprises fingerregions, a thumb region, an upper palm region, a lower palm region, anda cuff region.
 3. The knitted glove of claim 2, wherein at least one ofthe finger regions, the thumb region, the upper palm region, the lowerpalm region, and the cuff region comprises at least two different yarns.4. The knitted glove of claim 2, wherein the knitted liner comprises afirst yarn in some regions and a second yarn in other regions.
 5. Theknitted glove of claim 2, wherein at least one region comprises astructure of knitted courses knitted along a non-longitudinal directionof the liner.
 6. The knitted glove of claim 1, wherein the first yarnand second yarn comprise different characteristics.
 7. The knitted gloveof claim 6, wherein the characteristics comprise differing coloredyarns.
 8. The knitted glove of claim 1, wherein each of the first yarnand second yarn comprise different physical properties from each other.9. The knitted glove of claim 8, wherein the physical propertiescomprise at least one of flame-resistance, heat-resistance,cut-resistance, chemical-resistance, abrasion-resistance,comfort-control, moisture-control, or flexibility.
 10. The knitted gloveof claim 1, wherein at least one of the first yarn and second yarnincludes at least one of a textured nylon, a nylon wrapped SPANDEX®,polyester, nylon, a moisture-controlling yarn, aramid, ultra-highmolecular weight polyethylene, SPANDEX®, LYCRA®, NOMEX®, KEVLAR®,TWARON®, DYNEEMA®, SPECTRA®, VECTRAN™, STA-COOL®, AQUARIUS®, steel wire,fiberglass, or any blend of the fibers and materials thereof.
 11. Theknitted glove of claim 6, wherein at least one the first yarn and secondyarn comprises at least one of polyester, nylon, a moisture-controllingyarn, aramid, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, NOMEX®, KEVLAR®,TWARON®, DYNEEMA®, SPECTRA®, VECTRAN™, STA-COOL®, AQUARIUS®, modacrylicyarns, oxidized-polyacrylonitrile (O-PAN), steel wire, fiberglass, orany blend of the fibers and materials thereof.
 12. The knitted glove ofclaim 1, further comprising a plaited yarn.
 13. The knitted glove ofclaim 1, further comprising a polymeric coating.
 14. The knitted gloveof claim 13, wherein the polymeric coating comprises natural latex,guayule, polyisoprene, synthetic latexes, non-carboxylated acrylonitrilebutadiene, carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene, butyl latex,polychloroprene, polyurethane, styrene-butadiene,acrylonitrile-butadiene, nitriles, acrylics, or blends thereof.
 15. Theknitted glove of claim 13, wherein the polymeric coating is foamed orunfoamed.
 16. The knitted glove of claim 13, wherein the polymericcoating is textured.
 17. A method of knitting a glove, comprising:knitting a liner comprising a plurality of courses, where the pluralityof courses are knitted longitudinally along a longitudinal axis of theliner and wherein at least two of the plurality of knitted coursesincludes a first yarn and a second yarn.
 18. The method of claim 17,wherein the first yarn and the second yarn comprise differentcharacteristics.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the first yarn andthe second yarn comprise polyester, nylon, a moisture-controlling yarn,aramid, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, NOMEX®, KEVLAR®,TWARON®, DYNEEMA®, SPECTRA®, VECTRAN™, STA-COOL®, AQUARIUS®, modacrylicyarns, oxidized-polyacrylonitrile (O-PAN), steel wire, fiberglass, orany blend of the fibers and materials thereof.
 20. The method of claim17, wherein at least one of the first yarn and the second yarn has athird yarn plaited therewith.